Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-09-23

hlghts' The children did not discover
themselves. Their terror of being aban
doned outweighed all their other fears.
Gotiirey stopped over night at road
side inns, leaving the wagon in the yard,
and John clambered down, when all was
still, and found some turnips in a
nelghboring field, which kept the little
wanderers from actual starvation.
On the morning of the third day,
Gottfey started long before light, and
at dawn drove into wide enclosure, in
which were great houses made of canvas.
The end had come Now they could
show themselves. He would be angry,
perhaps. But he would not leave them!
lie would take them home!
He embarrassed the mules and led
them away, as they supposed to feed
them. Then he would return to unload
the corn, and would find them.
When he reached the gate, they saw
him stop and parley for some time with
couple of men; then mounting one of
the mules he rode away.
The children waited, afraid to speak
lest the men in the field should discover
them. Maria began to sob She was
weak from long fasting, and for the first
time in her life she was untidy and un-
washed The neat little Moravian
loathed herself.
'Look herew cried John, peeping out
through the sacks. Out of one of the
tents came man striped from head to
foot like zebra, another in purple vel
vet and spangles, and fairy with fut-
terilg gauze wings. Maria had never
heard of fairies She had never heard
or read of anything which could explain
these monsters.
a minute later, a man carrying great
basket of raw beef went into one of the
tents, and there came from the inside
furious growls, yelps, and last, the roar
OF a lion.
Johns red face turned to pasty color.
He shook as if the beasts had him in
tn jaws, and opening his mouth,
uttered shrill shrieks Maria, without
word, got up, and catching him by the
shoulder dragged him down from the
wagon, towards the gate. 1t was then
that she showed that there was good
stuff in her.
"Hushl" she said. "Come out of
this. | am going home
Just then the flap of another tent
lifted, and two moving mountains Of
fish came out, and advanced towards
her. The girl had never seen even the
picture Of an elephant She stood still,
as if paralyzed, in front of them.
"Tm going home" she mechanically
repeated, looking up at them Some of
the men dragged her out of the path.
"Who are you2 Where did you come
from2' they asked.
John was too frightened to speak.
eve came on Gottfrey Sohner's wagon"
said Maria, her round eyes still fixed on
the elephants.
"The Dutchman who brought the
corn" said one Of the men. "Why did
you stay behind him2 He has gone
home long ago.
John gave cry of despair, and the
poor girl sank as if she had been shot.
Hunger and terror, with this last blow
had crushed her stout little heart at last
The children were in a circus and men
agerie to which Sohner, by previous
agrement had brought his corn and
oats.
Some of the women took Marie to
their tent and put her to bed. They fed
her and nursed her tenderly all day.
They gave John some work among the
horses, for doing which he received his
meals. The two children were kindly
treated and even petted by all the queer,
half wild people of the circus. The poor
girls who rode on the barebacked horses
in robes of tulle, ran in between the
acts to see if Marie had eaten her soup
and to pat her stout shoulders and nod
kindly to her.
The next morning the manager sent
for the children.
"Sohner," he said, '.left his wagon
for us to bring with US. We 90 to
Easton next week. Will you wait and
go with usl We shall pass through
your village. Or shall we send you di-
rectly homea If you stay, these ladies
will take good care of the little girl"
1t was Maria, as usual, who spoke.
"We'll 60 home, please. The ladies
are very kind. Butt want mother, "
and she began to sob.
The hare backed rider looked at the
clown, who jerked off his cap edged
with bells, and passed it round. The
silver pieces jingled in it, until there
was just enough to pay for the children's
fare in the wagon which ran once a
week from Philadelphia up the Lehigh
Valley. They started that very night,
loaded with little gifts and provisions
for the journey.
Years passed before John and Maria
We're forgiven by the good Moravians
Tor their freak. They were regarded as
dangerous characters for long time
though, indeed, they had never been so
humble and dutiful at heart as they be-
came after this terrible adventure.
In process of time they grew up and
We're married. John became mission
ary, but died in year after their wed
ding. Maria came back. a widow now